As the question of what will happen to the encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville,” its residents, and the government-owned site it’s on comes to a head, the nonprofit that wants to build a new facility on the site is asking for public support. Food Lifeline has been waiting to hear from city leaders whether they will help facilitate the purchase and ensuing project, or not; Mayor McGinn‘s office told WSB last week that they expected a report from the city’s finance office by mid-April. Food Lifeline spokesperson Amy Lee Derenthal says this is the “call to action” they are circulating among those interested in supporting their proposal:

Help Food Lifeline secure their chosen piece of land for the Hunger Relief Center.

Your voice in support of Food Lifeline being able to secure its parcel of land is critical to expediting the procedure. Reach out to the Seattle City Council today and let them know that you want them to declare the 10-acre site on West Marginal Way in Seattle surplus, and sell the land to Food Lifeline. The City’s plan for the property is a future storage site. Please call or email the Seattle City Council in support of Food Lifeline today.

Here is sample language for you to use when you call or e-mail the Seattle City Council:

“Food Lifeline distributes millions of pounds of food each year to help end hunger in Western Washington. Help Food Lifeline secure their piece of land to build the Hunger Relief Center by expediting the procedure for land purchase. As my representative on the Seattle City Council, I urge you to declare the 10-acre site on West Marginal Way in Seattle surplus, and sell the land to Food Lifeline NOW.

Thank you for your support of Food Lifeline.
Your Name Here”

Contact information for the council, whether collectively or individually, for this issue or any other, is on this page.

23 Comments

Great Idea It is time the Homeless get a healthier situation with Skilled help, mentors, services, safety and truth no more enabling but
a hand up back to society not housed waiting to do more advocacy…

in the last two years many donations meant for the homeless donated to Share have disappeared.

Homeless need to find jobs, get new skills, there are many great programs willing to help.

i personally believe that Food Lifeline would be a much better use of that parcel of land than Nckelsville..

I also agree that the main purpose of those who manage Nickeslville has been advocacy..not transitioning the homeless out of homelessness…

and there are great programs..

but there are not enough spots in those great programs to meet the need or enough housing available to offer stability for participants.

Lost in this fervor to move this eyesore along is the fact that Nickelsville does fill a need for our marginally employed poor individuals and families who wish to stay together that is not met elsewhere.

Food Lifeline is able to help many more people than those currently staying on the city property known as Nickelsville. We fully support the sale as soon as is possible. Help has been offered to many of the residents and they have refused to step up and help themselves work their way out of the situation. Yes there are mentally ill and addicts that perhaps will never seek help but we have met many residents that appear to be able bodied that are content to be taken care of. Let them find other hosts like TC 3 & 4 or Camp Unity which are much better run facilities and normally have the support of their surrounding communities including the host churches.

This is just weird to me. How is giving 10 acres of city property to Food Lifeline going to solve the Nickelsville problem?
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How are the two things even related?
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Honestly, this seems like a land grab to me. It seems like Food Lifeline is exploiting Nickelsville and its distressed neighbors to get something they want from taxpayers.
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We are already paying for DESC housing, Seattle Housing Authority housing, etc. etc.
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Stop trying to do well by doing good.

They’re not asking for the property to be “given.” But the city has to agree that the property is “surplus” and therefore can be sold; it takes some bureaucracy for that to happen, including City Council approval.

“I have written the Seattle City Council urging them to declare the 10-acre site on West Marginal Way in Seattle surplus, and sell the land to Food Lifeline NOW. I also want to record my concerns regarding the embarrassing and dangerous conditions that a long term occupation of this property has meant to one neighborhood in the hopes that the situation will be addressed as a priority.

Nickelsville has been in residence in this location for two years. It’s both becoming a dangerous living situation for the homeless and surrounding neighborhood. The expectation that any neighborhood maintain this kind of shantytown for TWO years is completely unacceptable. It sets a precedent, affects property values, and is ultimately not a healthy living situation for the homeless. The increase of street pandering, drug usage and debris are all warning signs. This is not a permanent solution. This encampment in ONE neighborhood is certainly not the solution.”

This is like dogs fighting over table scraps
Not at all pleasant to watch, but the scraps will be eaten.
Too bad the ‘dogs’ are human beings.
There must be something better,
but I have no solutions to offer.
Sad.

Having NV at the bottom of the hill from where I live does not affect my property value. All the foreclosure homes around are affecting the value of my house. Sorry Mike but they are not deadbeats. Many of them have jobs but don’t make enough for a first/last deposit on an apartment.

The Seattle Times has a story on Nickelsville in today’s edition. Interesting to note the $19K the City has spent on “providing concrete blocks and plywood to get the tents off the ground and to provide covered trash bins and regular garbage pickup to get the rodents under control.”

SO HERE IS A HUGE PROBLEM CITY Gave Garbage service, $19,000 PLUS SHARE WHEEL A $200,000.00 every 3 months for the indoor free shelters at donated churches with only expense another homeless person share2 paid $1,100 to pass out the donated FREE CLOTHING DONATED TOLETRIES DONATED MEALS FOOD SACK LUNCHES and Donated by taxpayers $540,000.00 king county and seattle city bus tickets…Most homeless have va benefits disability, ssi or something yes $800.00 a month not enough to rent alone but they could share a place, use a food bank, clothing bank, disabled bus pass… NICKLESVILLE TENT CITY 3 or 4 are a HUGE MONEY MAKING PROFIT for SHARE WHEEL…
FEDERAL LAW AND STATE TIME TO OPEN NON PROFIT BOOKS and NONE OF US EVER TALK CATHOLICS METHODISTS LUTHERNS JEWISH ROTARY CLUB MILLIONS RAISED they should be living better where is the money going? WE ARE FOOLS.. BEEN FOOLED MANIPULATED AND so have the homeless…